‘Learn2Work’ project to train 50 NEETs in footwear

Europe

Published: 04 May, 2017

The European funded project aims to address two increasing problems across Europe; the growing NEETs (Not in Education, Employment of Training) group and the lack of young skilled workers in the shoe manufacturing industry.

The innovative learning methodology based on ‘learning by doing’ is to act as a bridge for NEETs to discover and enter the footwear industry, hence, create or retaining more jobs in Europe. Learn2Work is being implemented in Portugal, Spain, and Italy until March 2018. Belgium and Denmark provide their expertise in management of training and educational programmes.

The European project is run by Edit Value in partnership with ThinkYoung, Produktionsskole Foreningen, the Portuguese Footwear Technological Centre (CTCP), Arsutoria School (Italy), the Technological Institute for Footwear and Related Industries (INESCOP) in Spain, and the European Confederation of the Footwear Industry (CEC).

To be able to foster NEETs and give them future career perspectives in the footwear industry, Learn2Work is to adapt and use the methodology from the Danish Production schools; their innovative pedagogics is believed to be of great use in manufacturing training within the Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems in Portugal, Spain and Italy. The 50 NEETs participating in the three pilot centres in Portugal, Spain and Italy will learn by doing, breaking the traditional learning method of a teacher telling students. “Instead, they will become the lead characters of their learning process, and through their experiences, success and mistakes, will develop critical thinking and acquire technical and soft skills”, says a statement from CEC.